Collaborative linking system with bi-directed variable granularity search engine

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a system and method for shortening response time and reducing resource utilization in an electronic advertising and customer enquiry system, operating in an interactive communications and distributed database environment. The system is designed to enable customers ( 01 ) to easily find product and service offerings that match their requirements for immediate local accessiblity (A 1 ), as well as the customer&#39;s ( 01 ) specific product desires. Where a perfect match does not exist, slightly less satisfactory solutions are offered. Such product offerings and customer ( 01 ) desires have static and dynamic characteristics that effect their electronic publication, enquiry, matching, and subsequent response.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims benefit of priority from U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Serial No. 60/182,749, entitled Collaborative LinkingSystem with Bi-directed Variable Granularity Search Engine, filed Feb.16, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Generally, the present invention relates to networked computersystems. More specifically, the present invention relates to computersystems and search engines used to selectively link members from any ofa plurality of classes of users via any of a plurality of networkenabled, wired or wireless, computers (or electronic devices).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Internet usage has become immense and promises to be much largerin the amount of information stored and made available to it users. Infact, the quantity of accessible information content and the number ofrequests for information are growing much more rapidly then the abilityto deliver the desired information. This delivery is limited by thepower of the available processors, database machines, and communicationbandwidth available and limited by the ability of the humans and theirlocal computers (or electronic devices) to receive and process the datareturned. Considerable research has been carried out to create moreefficient search engines that attempt to minimize the actual dataaccess, data communications, and querying required to satisfy the user'sreal need.

[0004] The great thrust of the Internet is characterized by the thrustof the “World Wide Web,” suggesting that all of the information stored,worldwide, can be accessed by all of the users, worldwide via increasingnumbers and types of wired or wireless computers, such as workstations,personal computers, cell phones, pagers, and personal organizers, justto name a few. Research, applications, and usage have been concentratedon this worldwide accessibility, such that the reach and access of a Webuser seems limitless.

[0005] However, with the apparent focus on increasing a user's reach andaccess to volumes of data, the Internet and World Wide Web, at times, isa forum of scarcely tapped potential on a community level. That is,consumers and product and service providers have realized only marginalbenefits from the Web in their mutual conduct of community levelbusiness transactions.

[0006] It is believed that as much as 85% of a consumer's purchasesoccur within 20 miles of the consumer's residence. Yet, presently, theWeb does not link local consumers with local providers of goods andservices in a scalable and efficient manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention is a network-based collaborative linkingsystem having bi-directed, variable granularity search enginesconfigured to selectively link one or more members from a first class ofusers with one or more members from at least one other class of users.Each class member may interact with the collaborative linking systemusing a wired or wireless computer. Wherein, the word “computer” as usedherein is to include, but is not limited to, those wireless devices,like cell phones, personal organizers, and pagers, which are networkenabled and which allow their users (or class members) to interact witha network to send and receive messages, for example. In the case ofpagers and personal organizers (i.e., receive only devices), it may beused to receive solicited or unsolicited advertisements, orannouncements or e-mail with limited text, as an example. However, forthe most part, messages may be include text, graphics (static anddynamic), or audio information, or some combination thereof.

[0008] In its simplest form, the collaborative linking system linksmembers of a first class with members of a second class, wherein membersof the second class generally seek information or data from members ofthe first class. Also, members of the first class may seek and usecertain information related to members of the second class to facilitatemore efficient and focused information providing. Each class may begenerally characterized according to the application for which thecollaborative linking system is to be applied. For example, in ane-commerce application, all members of the first class may becharacterized as “providers” and all members of the second class may becharacterized as “consumers”.

[0009] The collaborative linking system may impose a general structureor framework on classes (e.g., consumers and providers), to facilitateefficient processing. Providers may selectively map their providerinformation into the framework and consumers may then search forprovider information in a logical manner. By selectively mapping intocertain areas of the collaborative linking system, a provider imposes afilter on its entry. From a consumer's perspective, by defining certainsearch criteria, within the context of the framework, the consumerdefines a filter into the collaborative database for obtaininginformation. Given that the consumer can define and redefine his searchcriteria, the consumer can control the granularity of the search.

[0010] Within each class, members of that class may be grouped intosubclasses, according certain criteria. Subclasses may or may not behierarchical. That is, a subclass is constructed in accordance withcertain criteria. Other than the criteria that defines the classgenerally (e.g., all providers), the other criteria that defines onesubclass may be independent of the criteria that defines every othersubclass. For example, a subclass of providers selling pizza may beindependent from a subclass of providers selling skateboards, but theymay both be part of an independent subclass of providers targetingconsumers under the age of 21 years old. However, in a hierarchicalcontext, an auto dealer subclass may be further subclassified intocertain makers of automobiles (e.g., Chevrolet, Ford, etc.). In mostembodiments, the collaborative linking system will include somecombination of independent and hierarchical subclassifying.

[0011] Consumers may be similarly subclassified, either independently,hierarchically, or some combination thereof. As an example, consumersmay be independently subclassified into age groups, that is, age group1, or age group 2, or age group 3, or “all ages”, and independently,they may be subclassified as male, or female, or both. Generally, thecriteria of providers correspond to the criteria of consumers, such thatthe more refined the criteria (or search criteria) of a consumer thesmaller the solution set of providers that will satisfy the consumer'scriteria. Similarly, the more refined the criteria (or search criteria)of a provider the smaller the solution set of consumers that willsatisfy the provider's criteria.

[0012] Classes, and their members, may be defined in any of a variety ofmanners, as dictated by the application for which the collaborativelinking system is to be used. A member may be an individual, anorganization, or some other type of entity. Preferably, thecollaborative linking system is a Web-based system implemented over theInternet for e-commerce purposes. However, the collaborative system mayalso be implemented with other types of networks, such as, for example,a wide area network (WAN), local area network (LAN), or Intranet of anorganization or affiliation or some combination thereof, and need not berestricted to e-commerce. Additionally, classes and their members mayhave different system privileges and the system may employ various knownsecurity mechanisms.

[0013] The collaborative linking system includes a plurality of wiredand/or wireless computers (e.g., workstations, personal computers (PCs),cell phones, pagers, electronic personal organizers, Web enabledtelevision, or other such interactive electronic devices) linked to oneor more content servers and content databases of provider, andpotentially consumer, information. The provider database content mayinclude relatively static data, as well as short-term “promotional” ortime critical dynamic data that may be of interest to consumers. In thepreferred form, a control center having one or more control servers andassociated control databases, serves as an entry point for selectivelydistributing and managing the distribution of providers' data to thecontent servers and content databases. The control center alsoestablishes and manages, to some degree, the high level framework withinwhich the classes operate. In addition to provider and consumerdatabases that may be provided as part of the collaborative linkingsystem, third party databases may be linked to the system and the datatherein used to facilitate improved satisfaction of the objectives ofthe collaborative linking system. For example, third party databasesincluding directory listings, maps, SIC codes, Zip codes, telephoneexchange numbers, and/or directions for getting from one place toanother may be linked to, or imported into, the collaborative linkingsystem.

[0014] A collaborative linking system program code is executable by oneor more of said content servers and includes one or more bi-directed,variable granularity search engines. A search engine facilitatessearches of, for example, provider content databases according toconsumer's defined filters (i.e., search criteria). Based on a firstlevel of search criteria, the search engine determines the appropriateone or more content servers and associated content databases most likelyto satisfy the user's search. By continuing to add search criteria,additional (or more refined) filters are applied by the search engine tothe content databases; thus, the user's search is further refined.

[0015] The collaborative linking system includes a plurality of userinterfaces (UI) to facilitate the interaction of each of several typesof users and computers (e.g., PC, cell phone, or pager) with the system.Preferably, each UI is generated from program code executed within astandard Web browser, on a user's workstation or PC, but the actual UIimplementation will often vary as a function of the type of device withwhich a user interacts with the collaborative linking system. Each UImay be established with specific user privileges, having differentlevels of access and security. For example, a system administrator UI(SAUI) is provided to facilitate the configuring and maintenance of thesystem. A developer's UI (DUI) may also be provided for initialdevelopment and integration of system components and for performingfunctions similar to those accomplished using the SAUI. Preferably theSAUI and DUI are part of the control center. The control center is, forthe most part, a logical center of the system and may or may not haveall of its components physically collocated. Access to the controlcenter may be local, remote, or some combination thereof, depending onthe embodiment. In various embodiments, the collaborative linking systemalso includes UIs for billing and account management, which may be partof the SAUI or part of a separate UI.

[0016] A provider UI (PUI) may also be provided to allow each providerto directly add, modify, delete, and map the provider's information intothe system's content servers and databases. As an alternative or acompanion to the provider's direct entry, the system administrator mayadd, modify, delete, and map provider data into the system via the SAUI.Using the PUI a provider can also, preferably, establish a provideraccount on the collaborative linking system and take advantage of, forexample, non-static information providing features of the system, suchas, for example, offering specials to consumers.

[0017] To facilitate a consumer's interaction with the collaborativelinking system, a consumer UI (CUI) is provided. The CUI facilitates aconsumer's search for provider information by enabling the consumer toenter and create filters (i.e., search criteria) used to efficientlymigrate through the collaborative linking system content servers andcontent databases to optimally locate relevant provider data, bothstatic and dynamic. Screens displayed and information provided withinthe consumer's Web browser are a function of the framework, theproviders' mapping of data into the framework, and the consumer's searchcriteria. Where appropriate, the UI screens generated by thecollaborative linking system may include Web site and e-mail links.

[0018] A consumer may optionally enter consumer information into thecollaborative linking system via the CUI and avail himself of anautomatic linking capability that links providers and consumers as afunction of a certain amount of synergy between the two. For example,the consumer's information may indicate that the consumer is an avidhiker and as local providers offer specials on hiking (or related)equipment, those providers and their specials are automaticallyidentified to the consumer (e.g., via e-mail). Additionally, thecollaborative linking system may selectively link consumers andproviders using information obtained about the consumer's purchasingpractices (or using other consumer related information), such that theconsumer receives unsolicited provider promotional announcements.Preferably, a consumer may opt out of the distribution of unsolicitedprovider promotional announcements.

[0019] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the varioususer interfaces may vary depending on the particular type of computerused. For example, the CUI for a PC may differ from the CUI for a cellphone, which may also differ from the CUI of an electronic organizer,and so on. Differences may be realized for each type of UI, amongvarious types of computer devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The foregoing and other objects of this invention, the variousfeatures thereof, as well as the invention itself, may be more fullyunderstood from the following description, when read together with theaccompanying drawings, described:

[0021] FIGS. 1-10 are diagrams illustrating the entity types andrelationships of the preferred embodiment of a collaborative linkingsystem, in accordance with the present invention;

[0022] FIGS. 11-16 are architecture-based diagrams of portions of thecollaborative linking system of FIGS. 1-10; and

[0023] FIGS. 17-24 are screen display diagrams of the user interface ofthe collaborative linking system of FIGS. 1-16.

[0024] For the most part, and as will be apparent when referring to thefigures, when an item is used unchanged in more than one figure, it isidentified by the same alphanumeric reference indicator in all figures.

[0025] Trademarks of various entities are used herein as examples and donot indicate any specific relationship to the present invention. Thetrademarks used herein remain the property of their respective ownersand nothing herein is intended to alter those property rights.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] In the preferred form, the collaborative linking system isapplied in a Web-based e-commerce context. In such a context, a firstclass of users includes “providers”, having members that include aplurality of retailers, service providers, restaurants, and so on. Forthe most part, in the preferred embodiment, a provider may be any typeof entity found in a typical Yellow Pages phone book, for example. Asecond class of users includes “consumers”, having members that includeindividuals, businesses, and so on. Preferably, providers and consumersinteract with the collaborative linking system via any of a variety ofwired or wireless types of computers (e.g., workstations, personalcomputers (PCs), cellular telephones, pagers, electronic personalorganizers, Web enabled televisions, or other types of electronicdevices).

[0027] Members of each class (i.e., providers and consumers) may begrouped into subclasses based on additional criteria. Sub classifyingmay be either independent, relationship-based or some combinationthereof. An example of relationship-based sub classifying is ahierarchical approach, but subclasses may be related in some othermanner. In contrast, if a subclass is independent, it has no particularrelationship to any other subclass within its class. Generally, aprovider seeks to be linked to consumers in search of the provider'sproducts or services. Similarly, a consumer seeks to be linked toproviders that provide the products or services that the consumerdesires. In some situations a provider may be a consumer, for example,in a business-to-business transaction. FIGS. 1-10 depict the entitiesand relationships of the preferred embodiment of the collaborativelinking system.

[0028] The collaborative linking system of the preferred embodimentimplements a structure that defines a first level of criteria forlinking providers and consumers. In an e-commerce context, recognitionthat most people shop in their immediate vicinity for many products andservices, such as for perishables, items or services they need in arelatively short time, and items they prefer to inspect beforepurchasing, leads to a preference for a geography-based framework orstructure. Therefore, consumers and providers are linked, at a firstlevel, in relation to a predetermined geographic region. For the mostpart, the provider's choice of geographic preference is more or lessstatic, over a period of time, because of the general “bricks andmortar” aspect of providing products and services from a physicallocation. On the other hand, the consumer has greater physical mobility,so the collaborative linking system provides the capability to allow theconsumer to dynamically specify his current geographic point ofinterest.

[0029] As an architectural implementation, a plurality of contentservers and associated content databases are linked together under thegeneral management of a control center and made accessible via theInternet and Web, as shown in FIGS. 11-16. Additionally, third partydatabases, information sources (and related functional code),functionality, networks, and systems may be linked to, or imported into,the collaborative linking system, such as databases including directorylistings, maps, SIC codes, ZIP codes, telephone exchange numbers,directions for how to get from one place to another, credit information,financial account information and so forth. The content servers anddatabases are defined according to a geographic region, within thelarger geography-based framework. Each provider maps its providerinformation into those geographical content servers and databases (i.e.,“business places”) that correspond to that provider's consumer baseand/or that provider's storefront locations. A consumer searching for aparticular product or service dynamically chooses a geographic regionwithin which to search, that is, the consumer chooses a certain one ormore content servers and databases. Preferably the content servers arephysically located proximate to or within the geographic region thatthey serve. This geography-based architecture imposed on providers andconsumers provides at least two performance benefits. First, if theconsumer is searching a content server and database that is in or nearhis geographic location, transmission times between the consumer and thecontent server will be relatively short, due to fewer relays in thetransmission path, among other things. Second, the server's responsetime (to the consumer's search request) will be relatively short, sincethe content database being searched contains only the data for thatgeographic region. Also, the more refined the consumer's search, thefaster the search results are presented. Of course, in otherembodiments, a geography-based structure need not be imposed; the choiceof structure is made in light of several considerations and will varydepending on the application for which the collaborative linking systemis used. Generally, the structure is chosen to enhance or optimizeperformance. In other architectures, content servers and databases maybe dynamically allocated as a function of the availability of systemresources.

[0030] A geographic region may be defined in any of a variety ofmanners, such as, for example, by postal codes, by telephone area codesand exchanges, by a circle defined by longitude and latitude values, bya set of points each with a longitude and latitude value, bygovernmental census tracks identifiers, or by a set of other geographicregions (places). The provider information (or data) may includeinformation relating to the provider's location (e.g., the store'saddress), store hours, products and services offered and currentpromotions. The product information may include make, model, features,price, and quantity on hand. Additionally, providers may be rated andconsumers may search for providers meeting a certain minimum ratingthreshold, for a given product of service.

[0031] While a user is most likely to inquire about providers in hisgeographic region, the user may optionally expand his search to includeadjacent geographic regions or to search in remote geographic regions.Additionally, consumers may generally be willing to travel fartherwithin their general geographic area for some products than for others.For example, the geographic region (or business place) for autodealerships may be larger (in the consumer's mind) than the geographicregion for pizza parlors. Thus, a provider may wish to list a particularplace of business (e.g., an auto dealership) in multiple surroundingareas. Using the Internet and Web as a communications network, aconsumer may seamlessly transition between business places, expand orcontract a search, or change the product/service being searched.

[0032] In a broad context, the collaborative linking system isimplemented for a large group of business places (i.e., towns), whereineach business place includes a plurality of businesses (or providers)offering products and services. A combination of business places mayform a higher-level business place. For example, a large geographicregion may be the United States (“U.S.”), which may include a pluralityof separate business places (or geographic sub-regions). A provider thathas a presence (e.g., store or franchise) in many locations throughoutthe U.S. may then pick and choose within which business places toadvertise each store. Presumably, the provider advertises in thoseregions where the provider has a physical presence. Additionally, aprovider may pick and choose within which business places certainproducts will be promoted. For example, a department store provider may,in the month of January, promote snow scrapers in Massachusetts and sunglasses in Florida, but not vice versa. However, if the provider is amail order business with no traditional storefronts, that provider maychose to advertise only in business places having consumers that havedemonstrated a demand for the provider's mail order products or mayadvertise in all business places.

[0033] In the preferred embodiment, the collaborative linking systemincludes the control center, having access to the control servers andcontrol databases. The control center accomplishes the systemadministration, management, maintenance, modifications, upgrades, and soforth of the collaborative linking system, as well as establishing thebasic framework of the system. The control center provides a mechanismfor the storage and subsequent mapping of provider data into businessplaces (i.e., business place content servers and databases) andadministration of links to third parties (e.g., provider Web sites orthird party databases or services). Although, third parties need notlink to the collaborative linking system through the control center;they may link to a proximate content server. In the preferredembodiment, providers seeking to offer promotions (e.g., advertise salesor distribute coupons), derive or collect consumer information or deriveother benefits beyond a static listing from the collaborative linkingsystem are referred to as “syndicators”, and derive such benefits byestablishing an account that is managed through the control center.Other providers may simply have their static information (e.g.,non-promotional information) provided to consumers.

[0034] The collaborative linking system provides a mechanism forproviders to use consumer information to tailor or otherwise influencetheir marketing approach. For example, geographically related consumerinformation may be added into the system, such as average householdincome, number of homeowners, political and religious affiliations andother census information, and so on for a geographic region.Additionally, other consumer related information (e.g., number of“hits”, consumer preferences, and consumer activity patterns) may becollected by the system, as part of consumer's use of the collaborativelinking system. This information may then be used by providers indetermining which products and specials are to be offered in a givengeographic region, which types of ads are most effective, and which adsare most effective relative to the time of day, among other things. Useof this information may be by overt provider selection, or as anautomated function of the application of automated filters. For example,a kitchen appliance company may only promote certain appliances in thetowns where the company has a distributor and where new homeconstruction is higher than 5%. Once a town's new home sales drop below5%, the collaborative linking system may automatically cease promotionson those appliances in that town.

[0035] In the preferred embodiment, the collaborative linking systemuser interface is comprised of at least three user-type interfaces: asystem administrator user interface (SAUI), a provider user interface(PUI), and a consumer user interface (CUI). That is, the SAUI includes aplurality of displays useful by system administrator personnel formonitoring, data gathering, troubleshooting, analyzing, modifying,upgrading, configuring, enhancing, testing, and otherwise operating andmaintaining the collaborative linking systems and the informationthereon. The SAUI may also be used for billing and account managementpurposes. Also, the SAUI may be used to add, modify, and delete providerand consumer data and to establish and maintain links to third partysystems and databases. Access to certain aspects of the collaborativelinking system for system administration purposes may vary as a functionof predetermined user privileges. For the most part, systemadministration is conducted via the control center.

[0036] The PUI allows a provider to access information related to thatprovider on the collaborative linking system. In the preferred form, thecollaborative linking system databases are populated with relativelystatic provider data within a geographic context for substantially eachprovider in a selected business place. As previously discussed, suchrelatively static provider data typically includes a provider name,address, and telephone number (which may collectively be referred to asa “listing”). Such information is entered into the system via the SAUIor by the provider via the PUI. Using the PUI, a provider may “register”with or establish an account on the collaborative linking system andsubsequently view, add, delete, or modify its provider data. Registeredproviders are required to logon to the collaborative linking system inorder to interact with their provider data. Using the PUI, for example,a provider may define promotional specials, change or update providerdata and view statistical information related to their listing andspecials. Appendix A (and its figures) describes an embodiment of thePUI.

[0037] For the consumer, the collaborative linking system CUI provides,preferably, a hierarchical, link or text-based search approach tofinding providers relative to a chosen geographical region, as a firstlevel criterion. Decreasing recall and increasing accuracy of results isachieved with the addition of subsequent criteria by the consumer, asindicated in the CUI screen prints of FIGS. 17-24. In the preferredembodiment, the consumer interacts with the collaborative linking systemvia a standard Web browser. The consumer may directly access a businessplace Web site, associated with a particular business place (e.g., thetown of Wellesley, Mass.) to find providers in that business place.Additionally, the consumer may broaden the search to include otherbusiness places or migrate to other business places. As a function ofthe user's search, the collaborative linking system generates anddisplays within the CUI provider information and data, and mayadditionally provide information about companion providers orpromotions. For example, if a consumer searches for pizza places inWellesley, Mass., the CUI may provide a list of all pizza places in thattown. Additionally, the user interface may provide indications ofspecials or promotions offered by certain providers (e.g., icons,conspicuous text, and/or sound messages). Also, as a function of theconsumer's search, companion specials or promotions may also be includedwithin the CUI, for example, a promotion by a local convenience store onsoft drinks. Additionally, provider specials and promotions may providevirtual links to the provider's own Internet pages.

[0038] Additionally, a consumer's interests or other consumerinformation may be registered with the collaborative linking system. Insuch a case, a consumer may be linked (or matched) with providers aspart of an “opt-in” service, as a function of a synergy between theconsumer and the providers. For example, the consumer's interests maycorrespond to one or more provider's offers; consequently, the consumersand providers are linked by the collaborative linking system.Preferably, the collaborative linking system maintains the anonymity ofthe consumer with respect to the provider when linking the two. Furtheraspects of this service may be better understood and appreciated in thecontext of the embodiment described in Appendix B herein.

[0039] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the variousUIs may vary, depending on the type of computer or electronic devicewith which they are to be used. For example, the CUI for a PC may differfrom the CUI for a cell phone, and so on. Additionally, the various UIsmay be defined in other manners without departing from the presentinvention.

[0040] The invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. Forexample, mapping of provider information may be dynamically accomplishedand editable. Also, automated filters may be applied to effect thedynamic mapping of provider information. Additionally, third partydatabases may be linked into the collaborative linking system and usedby providers to select consumers or by consumers to select providers. Inother embodiments, the definition of the geographic regions may vary asa function of the product or service being searched, rather than berelatively statically defined. The present embodiments are therefore tobe considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, thescope of the invention being indicated by appending claims rather thanby the foregoing description, and all changes that come within themeaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended tobe embraced therein.

1. A collaborative linking system, comprising: A. a network of contentservers and associated databases arranged according to a predeterminedframework, wherein for each member of a first class, a first classmember data is selectively mapped into one or more of said associateddatabases, as a function of a first class member criteria and saidframework; B. one or more computers configured to selectively accesssaid network of content servers and associated databases, wherein eachof said computers is configured to selectively link a member of a secondclass to one or more of said content servers and associated databases,as a function of a second class member criteria and said framework, andC. a program code, configured to selectively associate said member ofsaid second class with one or more first class member data, as afunction of a corresponding one or more first class member criteria,said second class member criteria and said framework.
 2. A collaborativelinking system as in claim 1, wherein said content servers are linkedvia the Internet and World Wide Web.
 3. A collaborative linking systemas in claim 1, wherein said computers access said content servers viathe Internet and World Wide Web.
 4. A collaborative linking system as inclaim 1, wherein said framework is substantially a geographicallyoriented framework.
 5. A collaborative linking system as in claim 1,wherein said network includes the Internet and World Wide Web and saidcomputer is either wired or wireless and is chosen from a groupincluding: B. i. workstations; ii. personal computers; iii. cellulartelephones; iv. pagers; v. electronic organizers; and vi. Web enabledtelevisions.
 6. A collaborative linking system as in claim 1, furthercomprising: D. at least one interface to a third party system.
 7. Acollaborative linking system as in claim 1, wherein said second classmember criteria includes search criteria, said collaborative linkingsystem further comprising: D. a user interface program code, configuredto render said first class member data on a computer display of saidsecond class member, as a function of said search criteria.
 8. Acollaborative linking system as in claim 7, wherein said first classmember data is provider data that includes information relating to: i.identification of a provider; and ii. offerings by said provider.
 9. Acollaborative linking system as in claim 8, wherein said user interfaceprogram code is further configured to: selectively display on saidcomputer display of said second class member an ancillary set ofinformation.
 10. A collaborative linking system as in claim 9, whereinsaid ancillary set of information includes information relating to a setof companion offerings by said provider.
 11. A collaborative linkingsystem as in claim 9, wherein said ancillary set of information includesinformation relating to a set of companion offerings by a secondprovider.
 12. A collaborative linking system as in claim 7, wherein saidfirst class member data includes links to relevant Web sites.
 13. Acollaborative linking system as in claim 7, wherein the user interfaceprogram code is further configured to: selectively display on saidcomputer display of said second class member a secondary set ofinformation related to said first class member data, wherein saidsecondary information is dynamic temporary data.
 14. A collaborativelinking system as in claim 13, wherein said secondary set of informationis promotional offerings information.
 15. A collaborative linking systemas in claim 1, wherein said associated databases include second classmember data.
 16. A collaborative linking system as in claim 15, whereinsaid program code is further configured to selectively associate amember of said first class with one or more members of said secondclass, as a function of a corresponding one or more second class membercriteria, a corresponding first class member criteria and saidframework.
 17. A collaborative linking system as in claim 1, whereinsaid second class member is linked with said one or more members of saidfirst class via the Internet, and wherein at least one of said one ormore members of said first class provides at least some portion of saidfirst class member data to said second class member via e-mail.
 18. Acollaborative linking system as in claim 1, further comprising: D. acontrol center linked with said content servers via the Internet andWorld Wide Web, wherein at least one member of said first class enters acorresponding set of first class member data into said control centervia a first class member computer and said control center selectivelydistributes said first class member data to one or more of said contentservers and associated databases.
 19. A collaborative linking system asin claim 18, wherein said control center includes a Web server and saidfirst member computer is linked to said Web server via the Internet andWorld Wide Web.
 20. A collaborative linking system as in claim 1,further comprising: D. an account management program code configured tocreate, manipulate, edit, and delete an account associated with a firstclass member.
 21. A collaborative linking system as in claim 1, furthercomprising: D. an account management program code configured to create,manipulate, edit, and delete an account associated with a second classmember.
 22. A collaborative linking system as in claim 1, wherein thecollaborative linking system is an e-commerce system and said firstclass members are providers, said second class members are consumers,and said framework is a geographically oriented framework.
 23. Acollaborative linking system as in claim 22, wherein a first classmember data includes information identifying a provider and said secondclass member criteria includes consumer search criteria, used by saidprogram code to locate one or more providers substantially satisfyingsaid consumer search criteria.
 24. A collaborative linking system as inclaim 23, wherein said first class information includes informationrelating to promotional offerings by said provider.
 25. A collaborativelinking system comprising: A. a set of database systems comprising a setof commerce data comprising data representing providers and theirlocations and offerings; and B. a control system linked to said set ofdatabase systems, wherein said control system is configured for useraccess to receive a set of user commerce criteria, including ageographic region definition, and wherein said control system is furtherconfigured to generate a solution set of providers derived from saidcommerce data, as a function of said user commerce criteria.